About the Interview

Since my field working is focused around the elderly, when thinking about where to go for my interview, the first person I thought of was naturally my grandmother. It is very different to interview someone that you already have established a relationship with, but even so, it was definitely a unique experience for me. I conducted the interview in my grandmother's living room, a place where I had sat a thousand times before, but this time it was different. This time, it was all about her and what she had to say. I can't say that I've never heard her talk about her life before, and the time that she spent at the senior center, because I can assure you that my grandmother is one who loves to share her stories, but I have surely never heard them like that. The interview opened my eyes to just how relevant her life experiences still are, and how important it is to listen to the stories of those who came before you. Our difference in age obviously leads to some major differences between us, from the way we were raised to the societies that we grew up in. For example, back in her time, women rarely strayed from the jobs where society had them believe that they belonged, like being a nurse or a secretary. She was raised in an era where the men worked and the women kept the house and raised children, and maybe had a small job on the side. It's interesting to see how that affects the way that she views the world today. Regardless of the age difference though, my grandmother made it clear to me just how important it is to keep yourself active and interested in the lives of those around you. For her, that's what makes the senior center in Needham so important. It is a support system and a place to be a part of her community and be social with her friends. One thing that I have always admired about her is just how active she is. Before her hip injury, she would take a walk every single day, and you couldn't walk into her living room without seeing a stack of books from the library. She is an active member of the senior center, a volunteer at the local hospital, and a vital part of her church community. Seeing the way that she lives has helped me to see how you can keep yourself young even at the old age of 92, and that maybe aging isn't such a negative thing after all. As my grandmother said, being old is a blessing, especially when you can view each day as a gift. I can only hope that if I ever get to be as old as my grandmother that I will achieve the same amount of wisdom and understanding that she possesses today, and be able to keep up such an active lifestyle and positive attitude.